Thermostatic switch



June 3, 1947. E, K, CLARK 2,421,538

THERnos'rArIc swrx'cH Original Filed lay 21, 1941 l l 5 X l METIIL INVENTOR AUQRNEY Y description.

Patented June 3, y1947 Y gUNITED STATE s PATENT vOFFICE 'rnERMosTATrc swrron Earl K. clark, Manssen, ohio, signor u westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Original application May 21, 1941, Serial No. 394,469. Divided and this application January 13, 1945, Serial N0. 572,694

i This-application is a division of my applica- -lilou Serial N0. 394,469, filed May 21,l 1941, now

In the accompanying drawing,

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of an iron having' the thermostat embodying my invention associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the thermostat embodying my invention associated with the control knob;

Fig. 3 isa sectional view taken along the line -IIIIII of Fig. 2; and Y Fig. 4 is a top view of the thermostat embodyy* ing my invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, there is shown a, thermostat I0 embodying a supporting structure I2, a bimetallic element I4 insulatedly attached to the supporting structure I2 by means of a. resilient member I6, a resilient contact-v I canying member"y I8 and an adjusting screw 20. The adjusting screw has attached thereto a substantially U-shaped bracket 22 which cooperates with a control knob 24, and the control knob .24 is utilized to rotate the adjusting screw to vary the operationof the bimetallic element I4.

The thermostat I0, embodying my invention, is shown as being associated with a sadiron structure 28, embodying a, handle 28, a soleplate 30, a heating element 32 and a ysuitable cover plate 34. However. Ait is yto be understood that the reclaim.y (cl. 20o- 122) I The handle 23 includes a grip portion 28 retained above the cover plate 34 by a rear portion 3| and a front member 3,3. which is fastened thereto and .rigidly attached to the cover plav` 34. A skirt portion 31, integral with the rear portion 3|, extends toward the front of the iron just above or in contact with the cover plate 34 and coversthe opening 36 therein.` An upwardly-extending aperture or notch 54 is formed in the lower surface of the skirt portion 3l in line with the opening 36 to receive the upper ends of vthe thermostat adjusting screw 20 and the U- shaped bracket 22. In addition, there is an enlarged undercut portion 55 (see Figs. 2 and 3) in the lower surface of the skirt 3l to receive and permit. the movement oi a mounting bracket 56 for the control knob 2i, as hereinafter described.

The thermcna-'s Iii comprises a supporting structure I2 which, in this instance, is a at plate having a threaded bushing 42 attached thereto for receiving the threaded adjusting screw 20. Said threaded bushing 42 is preferably attached to the supporting structure I2 at the midpoint thereof. However, it isto be understood that this bushing may be mounted 4at arly other suitable point. An upwardly-extending stop member or portion 50 is attached to oxis made as an intemovements of the adjusting screw 20 and bracket 22, as hereinafter described. A spring 5| is positioned about the upper part of the threaded thermostat I0 may be associated with any other` suitable structure.

The heating element 32 is, in this instance, positioned upon and attached to the soleplate and supplies heat thereto in a well-known manner. k'I'he energization of the heating element 32 is controlled by the thermostat I0 which is connected in series with the heating element in a familiar manner, to maintain a preselected temperature of the soleplate.

The cover plate 34 is positioned upon the soleplate 30 and extends above the heating element 32 and thermostat structure III. An opening 36 is provided in the cover platethrough which the upper end of the adjusting screw 20 and U- shaped bracket 22 of the thermostat I0 extend and in which they may freely rotate.

portion of screw 20 to act as a restraining cushion therefor. in a well-known manner. A stationary contact 38 which cooperates with a movable contact 33 is insulatedly attached to the supporting structure I2 in a, well-known manner, and a suitable electric terminal or strap 4I is connected electrically to the stationary contact 38. A second electric terminal 43, which is located diametrlcally opposite to the stationary contact 38, is electrically connected to the contact-carrying member I3 by a rivet 40. This rivet 40 also insulatedlv and rigidly mounts the resilient supporting member I6, and one end of the resilient contact-carrying member I 8, to the supporting structure I2.

The resilient member I6 is relatively small and is, as previously mentioned, rigidly and insulatedly attached at one end thereof to the supporting structure I2 by the rivet 40. Thebimetallic element I4 is, inthis instance, an elongated strip type element which is mounted intermediate the 'contact-carrying member I8 and the supporting structure I2 and has its right-hand, relatively stationary end rigidly attached to the free end of the resilient member I6 by means of a rivet 44. In addition, an upwardly offset finger-like member 46 extends intermediate the blmetallic element I4 and the supporting structure I2 and is also rigidly attached to the rela.- tively stationary end of the bimetallic element I4 and the movable end of the resilient member I6 by the rivet 44.

The finger member 46 has an upwardly positioned ledge or offset portion 48 disposed substantially in line with the adjusting screw 20. An insulating member 41 is centrally positioned within an upwardly-extending recess 2I at the lower end of said adjusting screw and bears against the offset' portion 43.

The resilient contact-carrying member I3 is rigidly mounted at one end by the rivet 40 to the supporting structure I2, substantially in line with the stationary end of the resilient member I6, and the movable contact 39 is rigidly attached to its free or movable end. The member I3 is arranged in such a manner that it biases the movable contact 39 upwardly to engage the stationary contact 38. An upwardly-extending protuberance or boss 48 is formed in the member I3 below the movable end of the blmetallic element I4, so that las the bimetallic element exes, it will engage the boss 4B and move the member I3 in response to the flexing action of the blmetallic element.

Accordingly, it is obvious that as the operator turns the control knob 24, the adjusting screw position is changed and the insulating member 41 bearing against the finger 46will cause the finger and .bimetallic element I4 to move together as the resilientA member IB is flexed or biased about the rivet 40. The bimetallic element is so positioned that as it increases in temperature, it will ex downwardly or in counterclockwise direction. The free end of thebimetallic element will then engage the boss 48 in the member I3, causing the cooperating contacts 38 and 33 to become disengaged. Although the bimetallic element I4 does not carry any current, a potential is imposed thereon due to its engagement with the resilient member I8 mounted on the rivet 40. The finger 46 being in contact with the blmetallic element also has a potential imposed thereon. However, the insulating member 41 in the adjusting screw 20 prevents said screw from becoming energized.

Since the contact-carrying member I3 is electrically associated with movable contact 3! and the rivet 40, which in turn are electrically associated with the terminals 4I and 43, it follows that the flow of current through the thermostat will be substantially as follows: From terminal 4I to the stationary contact 38, through movable contact 39, the member I8. rivet 40 and out the second terminal structure 43. Accordingingly, it is obvious that the member Il will tend to increase in temperature in response to the flow of current therethrough, it being understood that the rate of increase in temperature will be in direct ratio with the quantity of current squared and resistance of the contact-carrying member I8.

The adjusting screw 2U embodies, in this instance, an elongated member having its lower end threaded so as to engage the threaded bushing 42 and is of such length as to just pass above the cover plate 34 when the thermostat Il is mounted upon the soleplate thereof.

The U-shaped bracket 22 is, in this instance, an elongated channel shaped member and is spotwelded to the side of the adjusting screw 24 along its longitudinal axis. An upwardly-projecting portion 23 is offset from the adjusting screw 23 at the upper end of the bracket 22. In addition, an offset depending portion 25 is located at the lower end of bracket 22 which extends downwardly and is adapted to engage the upwardlyextending stop portion as the adjusting screw 20 and bracket 22 are rotated, 4to limit the rotative movements of the adjusting screw 23.

The adjusting knob 24 comprises a. member which flts about the end of the skirt portion 31 and is connected to the adjusting screw 2l and bracket 22 and is retained in juxtaposition with the end of the skirt31 by a J-shaped bracket 53.

The J-shaped bracket 53 comprises an elongated member having a keyhole-shaped aperture 51 located at one end and a. raised portion 53 at the other end thereof. The upper or raised portion 53 of theJ-shaped bracket 56 receives the control knob 24 and is rigidly attached thereto by meam of a screw 63. The J-shaped bracket 5B and control knob 24 thus move as a unit. The

lower part of the J-shaped bracket 3l is pos-I- tioned within the notch 53 in skirt 31 and ls free to rotate therein; also, the keyhole-shaped aperture -51 loosely engages the upper end portion 23 of the U-shaped bracket 22 and fits over the upper end of screw 20 (as shown in Fig. 3). The bracket 56 and knob 24 thus are retained in assembled position but are free to rotate about the adjusting screw 20 as an axis, as the forward end of control knob 24 is rotated in an arc along the front edge of the skirt 32 in response to the movef ment of an operator's hand.

The upper end portion 23 of bracket 22 fitting within the keyhole-shaped aperture 31 in the J-shaped bracket 56 is also rotated as the knob 24 and bracket 58 are rotated. Inasmuch as the bracket 22 is rigidly attached to the adjusting screw 2B, it follows that screw 20 is also rotated as knobv 24 is moved.

The control knob 24 and attached J-shaped bracket 56, are assembled to the thermostatic structure when assembling the sadiron structure 2i, substantially as follows:

When assembling the iron structure 23, the thermostatic structure I4 is rigidly attached to the soleplate 34 by screws 32, with the adjusting screw 20 substantially normaly to the soleplate 3U. The handle 2l is positioned upon the cover plate 34, before the cover plate is applied to the soleplate, with the notch 54 in skirt 31 positioned above the opening 36 in cover plate 34. The rear end 3l of handle 23 is then rigidly attached to the cover plate, by screws (not shown). The front end of the handle 2l is then rigidly attached to the cover plate 34 by the front member 33. The control knob 24, attached to the J- shaped bracket 33, is then positioned upon the cover plate, with the portion oi' the bracket 33 which has aperture 51 therein disposed intermediate the cover plate 34 and the lower surface o! the skirt 31 of handle 2l. The composite structure, including the attached cover plate 34, handle 2l and the control knob 24 with the at tached J-shaped bracket 56, is then positioned upon the soleplate 3l. As the cover plate is placed ln position, the adjusting screw 23 and upper portion 23 of the U-shaped bracket 22 will pass through the keyhole-shaped aperture 51 in bracket 56. The cover plate 34 is then rigidly attached to the soleplate by screws (not shown).

It follows that, due to the cooperation of adjusting screw 20 and bracket 22 in aperture l1,

. the U-shaped bracket 22. The lower end of adjusting screw 20, through. the insulating pin 41, thus is forced down upon the finger 46 so as to change the angular position of the bimetallic element I4 with respect to the supporting structure I2. It will be noted further that when the free end of the bimetallic element I4 is not in contact with the member III, the angular position of the bimetallic element I4 with respect to the contactcarrying member is also changed. This action ofthe control knob 24, through the adjusting screw 20, thus changes the operating limits of the thermostat I0, selectively varying the operation thereof, in accordance with well-known principles.

When the iron is connected to a power supply (not shown), current will pass through contactcarrying member I8, increasing the temperature thereof, which adds heat to the `bimetallic element I4, in addition to that of the soleplate. The increasing temperatures of the soleplate and the contact-carrying .member I8 cause an increase in the temperature of the bimetallic element I4, such element then flexing downwardly or in counterclockwise direction. The free or movable end of the bimetallic element I4 thus engages the boss 48 of member I8, moving such member downwardly and disengaging the cooperating contacts 38 and I9. The flow of current through the heating element 32 is thus interrupted, permitting the soleplate and contact-carrying member I8 to decrease in temperature, .whereupon the element I4 will return to its normal upper position, permitting the contacts 3B and 39 to be re-engaged in a well-known manner.

As the control knob 24 is rotated to move the adjusting screw and the insulating pin 41 downwardly, the distance between the pin 41 and the member I8 is decreased, so that less fiexing of the bimetallicelement I4 the contacts. Accordingly, the temperature above which the contacts are open and below which they are closed is reduced, 4so that the iron is caused to operate at a lower temperature.

When the control knob 24 is rotated to raise the adjusting screw 20 and the -insulating pin 41, the distance between the pin 41 and the arm I 8 is increased, Increased bowing or flexing of the the bimetallic element I4 is now required to open the contacts. Thus, the temperature above which is required to open 6 ment, a bimetallic element responsive to temperature for actuating the contact-carrying member, said bimetallic element beingdisposed intermediate the mountings for the stationary contact and the contact-carrying member and between the support and the contact-carrying member, an offset flnger member associated with the bimetallic element and disposed intermediate the support and said bimetallic element, a resilient member disposed between the support and the contact-carrying member and attached to the mounting oi' the latter, one end of said bimetallic element and one end of the finger member being rigidly attached to each other and to oneend of the resilient member, said bimetallic element and said iinger member being so positioned that upon van increase in temperature the bimetallic element bows away from the finger member to actuate the contact-carrying member in an opening direction, an addusting screw carried by said support and disposed between the mountings for the stationary contact and the contact-carrying member, said adjusting yscrew constituting anad- Justable stop for the iinger member to limit movement away from said contact-carrying member and to selectively vary the angular position of the fixed end of the bimetallic element and thereby vary the deflection of the bimetallic element required to open the cooperating contacts.

2. In a thermostat, the combination of a support, a stationary contact rigidly mounted on said support and insulated therefrom and electrically connected to a first terminal, a resilient contactcarrying member rigidly mounted on said support and insulated therefrom and electrically connected to a second terminal at one end thereof and carrying at its other end a, movable contact which cooperates with said stationary contact,

said contact-carrying member being self-biased to resiliently hold the movable contact in engagement with the stationary contact and to generate heat, due to current flowing therethrough, when the cooperating contacts are engaged, a bimetallic element responsive to temperature for actuating the contact-carrying member, said bimetallic element being disposed intermediate the mountings for the stationary contact and c onthe contacts are opened and below which they Various modincations may be made in the device embodying my invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are imposed by the prior art and the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a thermostat, the combination of a support, a stationary contact mounted on said support, a resilient contact-carrying member rigidly mounted on said support at one end thereof and carrying at its other end a movable contact which cooperates with said stationary contact, said contact-carrying member being self-biased to resiliently hold the cooperating contacts in engagetact-carrying member and between the support and the contact-carrying member, an offset finger member associated with the bimetallic element and disposed intermediate the support and said bimetallic element, a resilient member disposed between said support and said contactcarryingmember and attached to the mounting of the latter, one end of said bimetallic element and one end of the finger member being rigidly attached to each other and to one end of the resilient member, said bimetallic element'and said finger memberbeing so positioned that upon an increase in temperature vthe bimetallic element bows away from the finger member to actuate the contact-carrying member in an opening direction, a threaded bushing attached to said support and disposed between the mountings for the stationary contact and the contact-carrying member. an adjusting screw mounted in said bushing, said adjusting screw constituting an adjustable stopfor the finger member to limit movement away from the contact-carrying member and being insulated therefrom and to selectively vary the angular position of the fixed end of the bimetallic element and thereby vary the deflection of the bimetallic element required to openthe cooperating contacts, and said bimetame element being responsive to both the temperature of the surrounding medium and to the temperature of the contact-carrying member. EARL K. CLARK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record 1n the me of this patent:

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